South Alabama suspends RB Demetre Baker for Arkansas State game

MOBILE, Alabama -- University of South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones announced Friday afternoon that running back Demetre Baker, the Jaguars' leading rusher, has been suspended for Saturday's game against Arkansas State for a violation of team rules.

South Alabama running back Demetre Baker was suspended by Jaguars' head coach Joey Jones on Friday for Saturday's game at Arkansas State for a violation of team rules. Baker is the Jags' leading rusher this season. Here he is pictured breaking the tackle of Henderson State's Taylor Stone (48) and Chuck Obi (1) in the first quarter of the Jaguars' 28-3 victory in the 2011 season. (MIKE KITTRELL/Press-Register)

The announcement was made in a press release from the university's athletic media relations department. Jones was not available for comment on the suspension.

Through five games this season, Baker, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound sophomore running back who transferred to South Alabama from Georgia, has carried the ball 69 times for 294 yards and a touchdown. He also has six pass receptions for 55 yards.

Last season, Baker played in nine of the Jags' 10 games and was the starter at running back for three. He led the team with 644 all-purpose yards and was second on the team in rushing (491 yards) and scoring (54 points on nine touchdowns).

The Jaguars and Red Wolves will kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday in Jonesboro; the game will be USA's first-ever Sun Belt Conference road game.